Power saving mode comparison: Samsung Galaxy S5 vs HTC One M8

Share

We’ve compared Ultra Power Saving Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Extreme Power Saving Mode on the HTC One M8.

It’s a problem we’ve all had. It’s Friday night, you’ve just finished work and you’re meeting friends in town. But you don’t know where you’re meant to be meeting them and you’re phone’s nearly dead. With the new Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One (M8), you wouldn’t have to worry. Just put them into their incredible new power saving modes and you’ll have enough battery to find your friends and get the night off to a great start.

How does Ultra Power Saving Mode work on the Samsung Galaxy S5?

To use Ultra Power Saving Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S5, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers and hit the ‘U. power saving’ button. It takes a moment to change all the settings but you’ll soon see a new black and white homescreen that has your calls, messaging and web browser apps. There are also a few plus symbols that you can tap on to add more apps that you’ll need.

The great thing about Ultra Power Saving Mode is that everything is turned black and white so all of your apps, from emails to Google Maps, work a lot more efficiently. As well as the new colour scheme, Ultra Power Saving Mode limits how often apps can go online, stops the phone vibrating and dims the screen.

How does Extreme Power Saving Mode work on the HTC One (M8)?

To use Extreme Power Saving Mode on the HTC One (M8), just swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers and hit the icon in the top left corner. The first thing you’ll notice is that your homepage instantly changes to a menu of five apps. Calls, texts, email, calendar and the calculator are all you can use in this mode. Cutting things down to just the essentials really helps the battery life.

You’ll also notice that the screen becomes dimmer to save even more power. Then there’s a lot more going on that you might not notice. The phone stops vibrating when you type, background data is restricted and the processor is turned to its slowest setting. All that means you have a smartphone that works a lot more efficiently.

Which one gives the longest battery life?

Our favourite was the Samsung Galaxy S5. It managed to make 10 per cent charge last an incredible 48 hours. Plus you can add the apps that you actually want and need, meaning it’s incredibly flexible. The usability and power savings it offers makes it the best power saving mode we’ve seen yet.